Aeroplane-destroyer.



E. LAZARTE.

AEROPLANE DESTROYER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOI? WITNESSES g d; l'nnyzpelazarfe m A FUR/V5 y E. LAZARTE.

AEROPLANE DESTROYER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1915.

INVENTOR i'vzrz'qaelazarfe A B Y ORIEZ/ untrue sra'rusrarnn r OFFICE.

ENRIQUE LAZAR'IE, OF LIMA, PERU, ASSIG'NOR TO AEROPLANE DESTROYER COMPANY,

OF LIMA, PERU.

AEROPLANE-DESTROYER.

' Application filed January 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENRIQUE Lazaurn, citizen of the Republic of Peru, residing at Lima, Peru, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane-Destroyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ordnance and in particular to an aeroplane destroyer.

In firing upon aeroplanes or other moving objects. with guns of the well known types, such .as are now in use in the European war, it is impossible to keep the piece trained upon the shifting target while estimating the rangefthe velocity of the target,

and the allowance to be made in the sighting on account of the trajectory of the projectile fired and the velocity of the target, particu larly when it is desired to fire a number of shots in rapid succession.

It is, therefore, the chief purpose of my invention to provide a destroyer in the form of a machine gun or rifle combined with range-finding and sighting mechanism of a character which will enable the gunner to estimate certain constant factors essential in the aiming at any given target of the nature set forth and then to keep the piece trained properly upon the shifting target through. out the firing of a number of successive shots without making further estimations or mathematical calculations. I

' A further object of the invention is the provision of a destroyer of this nature which will afford effective cover for the gunner operating the same, and which may be adapted. readily for marine use, wherein it may be. used just as effectively upon a rolling and rocking ship as upon terra firmaj In accomplishing these objects I propose to utilize the principle of the camera obscura and in fact, employ a large camera obscura whose opaque casing is constructed preferably of armor plate so that the gunner may find protection therein from hostile fire. The gun proper is mounted upon the casing and associated with the lens and image-receiving fioor surface of the camera in such a manner and by such mechanism that the position, size and movement of the image produced upon the said surface of an aeroplane, balloon, or other target passing through the exterior field of the camera may Specification of Letters Patent.

, armor plate.

Serial No. 1,855.

be utilized in bringing the line of aim established by .the gun sights into coincidence with the proper line of sight or incident'ray passing from the target through the'camera lens.

The imagereceiving surface is provlded with a diagram which is so correlated with the lens and the gun sighting and. ad-- panying drawings in which:

. Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the inventlon; Fig.

2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View, showing the device in use in firing-upon a moving target; Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig; 5 is a similar view on line of Fig. 3; Fig. 6-is a vertical sec tional v1ew through a portion of a modified form of the device; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a form of the device for marine use showing the same mounted upon a ship, means being shown for use in tilting the casing.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that I have constructed the casing 1 of the camera obscura in the form of a dome of This dome has a suitable base 2, which is provided with a floor 3 having, in this instance, a plane image-receiving upper surface. The lens l of the camera is mounted within the aperture 5 provided centrally within the upper end of the casing 1 in a vertically adjustable holder 6. This lens is of such character that its focal length will bearthe proper relation to its distance from the image-receiving surface 3. A yoke member 7 has its bifurcated ends 8 embracing the lens holder 6 and pivotally connected thereto by means of the trunnions 9,

"Whose axis intersects the optical center of Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

described in full in. the following speci c 'descriptlon and are shown in the accomthe yoke member 7 by means of a strong pivot member 11 whose axis intersects the axis of the trunnions 9 at right angles there- "to and at the point of intersection of the latter with the axis of the lens. The frame 'piece is thus mounted for free swinging movement. A gun 12 having a barrel 13 is mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece 10 in such a position that the line of drawings a machine gun of the mitrailleuse the' casing materially.

type is shown, but it is to. be understood that any convenient form of rifle or cannon may be employed without departing from the spirit of'the invention, provided it has-means of some sort embodied in its construction for absorbing the recoil so as to obviate undue stress upon the trunnions 9 and the pivot member 11 when the piece is fired. The firing mechanism of the piece is provided necessarily with an extended trigger 16 in order that it may be connected operatively with the firing lever 17, which is pivotally mounted upon'the frame piece 10 adjacent to its lower end, by means of a connecting rod 18. The firing lever is pro- .vided with suitable handle 19 which may be grasped by the gunner in discharging the piece. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower end of the frame piece is projected into the dome-shaped casing 1 through an opening 20 therein, which is constructed just large enough to permit the required movement of the frame piece but not enough to affect the shielding efliciency of .A needle-shaped pointer 21 is mounted for axial adjustment within a holder 22 provided upon the lower end of the frame piece and is arranged in true alinemefit with the line of aim of the piece. This pointer is adapted to traverse the image recei'ving surface 3 and is adjustable as described in order to accommodate the same to a plane surface.

The image-receiving surface of the camera floor has a diagram delineated thereon with direct reference to the focal length of the lens. This diagram consists of two parts, one of which consists of rectilinear coordinates and the other of concentric circles, b'othhaving as a common center a point in line with the axis of the lens. The coordimates and circles of both parts orsystem's are graduated with reference to the focal length of the lens so that the'coordinates may be used in a manner which should be obvious to mathematicians or engineers in determining at a glance the distance of an aerial object or target whose image is cast upon the surface 3 so as to cover a certain area of the same, and so that the circular system may be used in determining the trajectory of the piece. \Vhen the range has been determined by using the coordinates, the velocity of the target may be determined. by timing the advance of the image over any convenient distance on the coordinate system. These two factors, the range and velocity of the target,'ha ving been determined for any given target which may be passing through the exterior field of the camera, they will remain constant ordinarily throughout the flight through this limitedfield, especially when the target is near. The characteristic trajectory of the piece for any. particular elevation being known, the circular system of the diagram, is graduated so that each division will represent a definite number of points of elevation, the value of each of w ich will be knownto the gunner. From this knowledge, he can calculate mentally the number of points of elevation change in the \line of aim, which is fixed with relation the axis of the gun bore,

necessary to hit a stationary target at a given range. In contending with a moving target, however, the velocity of the latter must be considere also and the initial ad justment of the'pointer upon the image-re -ceiving surface must be such that the pointer will be located in the path of-the image at the proper distance from the point upon the same corresponding to the part of'the target. it is desired to hit, and that it will be located at the required distance from the center of the diagram to afford the necessary elevation. The use of this diagram and the pointer associated therewith/ in adjusting the piece for the initial shot'should be obvious to any military engineer or gunner, so the mathematics of the operation will not be set forth in detail. \Vhen the initial ady justment has been effected properly, the pointer will be moved thereafter along the path of the image so as to precede the latter at the same speed and consequently at the same distance therefrom-e It will not be necessary therefore to make any further: mathematical computations in connection with the subsequent shot, unless it is foundthat the shots are not effective and it becomesnecessary to make slight corrections to allow for changing atmospheric condi-- tions or the like. I y In Figs. 3 and .4 in particular the destroye is shown in action. t represe'nts the targetbr objective which is flying in the direction of the arrow a in a path p, represented by dotted lines. i is the image of the target Which is cast upon the surface 3 of the camera floor and which travels in the path in the direction of the arrow b.- Dotted lines 1- r 1 represent rays of light passing from three parts of the target through the lens of the camera to theimage, and dotted line 25. is the trajectory of a projectile fired from the piece and which intersects the path of the target it, where it should hit the target.

In Fig. 6 a slight modification of the construction is disclosed, wherein the major portion of the frame piece 10 extends along the dome-shaped portion of the casing 1 exteriorly thereof, a comparatively long inbent extension 23 being provided upon the lower end of the frame piece. This extension bears the pointer 2i and extends into the casing through a horizontally elongated slot which is provided in the casing immediately above the floor of the same. In this instance the slot or opening for the reception of the frame piece extension is positioned so low within the casing wall that the. latter is rendered more effective as a shield. In order that the pointer will contact evenly with all parts of the image-re ceiving surface no matter what the degree of angular adjustment may be, and without it being necessaryto adjust the pointer axially for this purpose, the said image-receiving surface may be formed concave, concentric to the optical center of the lens and consequently the center of the pivotal mounting of the frame piece. This construction is shown also in Fig. 6, which illustrates some of the modifications which may be resorted to in practice to increase the efficiency of the destroyer.

In Fig. 7 the camera casing is shown provided with a gimbal mounting whereby the destroyer may be mounted upon a ship of any description for marine use. It is obvious that it will be maintained in an upright position at all times, despite the unsteady movementof the vessel. In this instance, a horizontal ring-26 surrounds the casing and is pivot'ally connected therewith by means of the trunnions 27. The ring in turn is journaled in the vertical supports 28 upon a diametrical axis arranged at right angles to the axis of the trunnion's. The said supports are carried by a suitable base mounted upon thedeck or any other convenient part of the vessel. In order that the casing may be adjusted angularly and secured in adjusted position to change the field of fire so as to permit horizontal firing, a hand lever 30 is attached to the ring 26 of the gimbal in radial relation to its axis of pivotal mounting upon the supports 28, and it is provided with any suitable means,

i such as a pawl and ratchet device, for securing the' said ring in its adjusted position for this purpose 1n fixed relation to the stationary base. The adjustment of the ring is effected by manipulating the hand A certain form of adjusting and 'sesition of the firearm with reference tothe lever. curing means is dlsclosed in big. 7 1n parnism for this use which may appear in practice to be the most suitable expedient.

\Vhile the camera is shown in the drawings and described. in the specification as being provided with a lens, it is manifest that the lens may be omitted and that the p'ro vision of a minute aperture in the casing will serve the same purpose, though imperfectly. It is to secure efiiciency of the camera in the very difiicult work for which it is intended that I have employed a lens, this'being a mere mechanical expedient. In the event that the barrel of the firearm is found to produce a shadow upon the image-receiv ing surface. the cause may reside in the position of the barrel with relation to the lens. If the barrel is found to be too close to the lens. the lens holder may be adjusted within the casing aperture so as to space the same properly from thebarrel of the piece, or the defect may be remedied by substituting a larger lens.

What I claim is.

1. An aeroplane destroyer comprising a camera obscura including a casing having a floor affording an image-receiving upper surface and provided in its upper end with an aperture, 2 lens mounted within the aperture and being focused upon the said sur-- face, the casing being provided with a second opening, and a firearm consisting of a frame piece pivotally mounted upon the casing upon'double pivots having their axes arranged at right angles to each other and intersecting the optical center of the lens, a barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece in alinement with the optical cen'terof the lens, firing mechanism associated with the barrel, the lower end of the frame piece being projected into the casing through the second. opening therein, a pointer providedupon this end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of the barrel ofthe firearm and adapted to traverse.

vmounted upon the casing and having a barrel, means for maintaining the said barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of angular adjustment of the same, firing mechanism associated with the barrel, and means for adjusting the poimage projected the lens upon the said surface,

3. An aeroplane destroyer. comprising in combination a camera obscura consisting of a casing having a floor affording-an imagereceiving upper surface, the casing being provided with an aperture in its upper end, a lens mounted within the aperture and being focused upon the said surface, a firearm adjustably mounted upon the casing, and

vmeans for adjusting the-firearm with respect to the image-producing rays passing through the lens.

4. An aeroplane destroyer comprising a camera obscura consisting of a casing having a floor affording an image-receiving upper surface, the casing being provided 'with a side opening and With an apertu're in its upper end, a lens mounted Within the said aperture and being focused upon the said surface, and a firearm consistingof a frame piece pivotally mounted upon the casing, a barrel mounted upon the. upper'end of the frame piece, firing mechanism associated with thebarrel, means forfmaintaining the; barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of the frame piece, the lower .end of the frame piece beingprojected through the side opening in the casing, a pointer provided upon this end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of the firearm barrel and adapted-to traverse the image receiving surface, and means provided upon the lower end ofthe frame piece for operating the firing mechanism.

, 5.- An aeroplane destroyer comprising a camera obscura consisting" of an armored casing having a floor affording an imagereceiving upper surface, the casing being provided with a side'opening and with an aperture in its upper end, a lens mounted within the said aperture and being focused upon the said surface, anda firearm consisting ofa frame piece pivotally mounted upon the casing, a barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece, firing mechanism associated with the barrel, means for maintaining the barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of the frame piece, the lower end ofthe frame "piece being projected through the side opening 'in the-casing, a pointer provided upon this end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of the fire arm barrel and adapted to traverse the image-receiving surface, and means provided upon the lower end of the frame piece for operating the firing mechanism.- t

6. An aeroplane destroyer comprising a camera obscura consisting-of a casing hav ing a floor affording an image-receiving upper surface, the casing being provided,

with a side opening and with an aperture this end of the frame pieceri'n' alinement 'with the axis of the firearmbarrel andbeing adapted to traverse the, image-receivlng surface, the said pointer'being axially adp stable, and means by which the firing .mechanism may be operated.

T. An aeroplane destroyer-comprising a camera obscura consisting of a casing having a floor affording. a concave image-receiving upper surface, the casing being'provided with a side opening and with an aperture in its upper end, a lens mounted, W1th-- in the said aperture and being focused upon the said surface, the surface being arranged concentric .to the opticalcenter of the-lens, and a firearm consisting of a frame piece pivotally mounted upon the casing upon double pivots having their axes-arranged at right angles to each other and intersecting-the optical center of the lens, a barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece in alinement withthe optical center of the lens, firing mechanism associated with i the barrel, the lower end ofthe frame piece being projected through the side opening in the casing, a pointer provided upon this end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of thejfirearm barrel and adapted to traverse'the image-receiving surface, andmeans by which the firing mechanism may be operated.

8, An aeroplane destroyer comprising mg in the caslng, a pointer mounted upon camera obscura consisting of a casinghavin gfi.

a floor affording an image-receiving upper surface, the casing-being provided With a si e opening andan aperture in its upper end, a lens mounted within the said aper-, ture and being focused upon the said surface, a firearm consisting of a frame piece pivotallv mounted'upon the casing. a barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece, firing mechanism. associated withthe barrel, means for maintaining the barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of the frame piece, the lower end ofthe frame piece being projected through the side opening in the'casing, a pointer mounted upon thls end of the frame piece 1n alinement with the axis of the firearm barrel and being adapted to traverse the image-receiving surface, and means by which the firing mechaupper end, a lens mounted within the said aperture and being focused upon the said ''surface, a firearm consisting of a' frame barrel mounted upon the upper end of the piece pivotally mounted upon the casing, a

frame piece, firing mechanism associated wlth the barrel, means for malntaining the barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of 'the frame piece, the lower end of the frame piece beingiprojected through the side opening in the casing, a pointer mounted upon this end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of the firearm barrel and being adapted to traverse the image-receiving surface, and-means by which the firing mechanism may be operated, in combination with a stationary base, a gimbal mounting supporting the camera casing upon the base,

means by which the casing may be tilted I with respect to the base, and means for securing the casing in its tilted position.

10. An aeroplane destroyer comprising a camera obscura consisting of a casing having a floor affording an image-receiving upper surface, the casing being provided with a side opening and with an aperture in its upper end, a lens mounted within the said. aperture and being focused upon the said surface, a firearm consisting of a frame piece pivotally mounted upon the casing, a barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece, firing mechanism associated 'With the barrel, means for maintaining the barrel in alinementivith the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of the frame piece, the lower end of the frame piece being projected through the side opening in the casing, a pointer mounted upon this end of the frame piece in alinement With the axis of the firearm barrel and being adapted to traverse the image receiving surface, and means by Which the firing mechanism may be operated, a coordinate system being delineated upon the image-receiving surface with the axis of the lens locating its center and being graduated with relation to the focal length of the lens in units representing the range of a target whose image is projected by the lens on the said surface.

11. An aeroplane destroyer comprising a camera obscura consisting of a casing having a floor affording an imagereceiving upper surface, the casing being provided with a side opening and with an aperture in its upper end, a lens mounted Within the said piece pivotally mounted upon the casing, a,

barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece, firing mechanism associated with the barrel, means for maintaining the barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of the frame piece, the lower end of the frame piece being projected through the side opening in the casing, a pointer mounted upon this end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of the firearmbarrel and being adapted to traverse the image-receiving surface, and means by which the firing mechanism may be operated, a system of concentric circles being delineated upon the image-receiving surface with the axis of the lens as a center and being graduated with relationto the trajectory of the firearm in units representing points of elevation.

12. An aeroplane destroyer comprising a I camera obscura consisting of a casing having a floor affording an image-receiving upper surface, the casing being provided with a side opening and with an aperture in its upperend, a lens mounted Within the said aperture and being focused'upon the said surface, a firearm consisting of a frame piece pivotally mounted upon the casing, a barrel mounted upon the upper end of the frame piece, firing mechanism associated with the barrel, means for maintaining the barrel in alinement with the optical center of the lens irrespective of the adjustment of the frame'piece, the lower end of the frame piece being projected through the side opening in the casing, a pointer mounted upon the lower end of the frame piece in alinement with the axis of the firearm barrelconcentric to the lens axis being delineated also upon the said surface and being gradua'ted with relation to the trajectory of the firearm in units representing points of elevation, i

13. An aeroplane destroyer comprising in combination a camera obscura having an image-receiving surface, a firearm adjustably associated with the camera, and a pointer connected with the firearm and being adapted to traverse the imagereceiving,

surface upon adjustment of the former.

14. An aeroplane destroyer comprising in combination a camera obscura havingan image-receiving surfae'e, a firearm adjust- .iao

ably associated with the camera and includ- In testimony whereof I have signed my mg a barrel, firing mechamsm assoc ated name to this speclficatlon 1n the presence of with the barrel, and a po1nter connected two subscrlblng \vltnesses.

with the firearm in alinement with the axis ENRIQUE LAZART E. of the barrel and being adapted to traverse Vitnesses:

the image-receiving surfaoe upon adjust- A. ALVAREZ CALDEROX,

ment of the firearm. F. BUYTES.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

